Mirrors on the Outside
Chapter 2
~Laura’s POV~
I climbed up into the tree without hesitation. I’m just done, with everything. It’s like I’m made to be broken. I didn’t have friends, my parents left, now the landlord, and then to top it all off, my peers again. Torment is a vicious cycle.
Well I’m ending it. I’ll do as I promised people I used to love and try, try with music, but I’m almost certain that today will finally be the day I die. Since the time I first tried when I was 13, making my parents abandon me in hatred, to today.
I figure I’ll die as happy as I can, starting to strum the chords to Pierce the Veil’s “Hold On Till May”.
“She sits up high, surrounded by the sun.” I smirk to myself at the accuracy of the words.
“One million branches and she loves every one. Mom and dad, did you search for me? I’ve been up here so long, I’m going crazy. The sun went down, we ended up on the ground. I heard the train shake the windows, you screamed over the sound. And as we own this night, I put your body to the test with mine. This love was out of control, 3-2-1 where did it go? Now don’t be crazy, yes, of course you can stay here. Been in a touring band for ten years. Big deal, she said, I guess you’re official. I only say it ‘cause I know what it’s like to feel burned out, it gets you down. We’ve all been there sometimes, but tonight I’ll make you feel beautiful once again. And as the sun went down, we ended up on the ground. I heard the train shake the windows, you screamed over the sound. And as we own this night, I put your body to the test with mine. This love was out of control, 3-2-1 where did it go? If I were you, I’d put that away. See you’re just wasted and thinking about the past again. Darling you’ll be okay. And she said, if you were me you’d do the same. ‘Cause I can’t take anymore-“
My own sobs cut me off. I can’t do this. I can’t take anymore. I gently lay my guitar down, proud that I can die beside it. It has been and always will be my prize possession. Having thought about this many times, it’s not that hard to pull of my belt and secure it around my neck. I lean down, starting to tie the ends around the branch I’ve been sitting on.
“No!” I hear someone scream from behind me. The noise startles me into falling out of the tree, and into someone’s waiting arms.
I’m sobbing endlessly as they rest me on the ground, whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
~Jaime’s POV~
Tony suggests we give her some space, which sounds smart to me, so we sit on a bench a little way from the tree she’s sitting in, but still within running distance. We all smile at each other as she begins the familiar intro to Hold On Till May, thinking that it should be positive for her. Help her feel better, at least a little.
Almost too late do we realize we’re wrong. She suddenly stops playing as she bursts into tears. Then, too calmly, she wraps her belt around her neck. We’re all over there in seconds, Mike climbing up into the tree behind her. Just as she’s about to wrap it around the branch and jump, he shouts no, causing her to fall out of the tree and into my arms.
I whisper softly to her as she cries and I lay her down on the soft ground.
“Oh Christ…” I hear Vic say from behind me.
After moments that feel like decades she stops crying and sits up.
“I’m sorry to have caused you all trouble. Thank you for being kind. I’ll just be going now.”
“Yeah about that….” Vic says as her eyes widen at the sight of us. I can practically hear her go through the process in her head. Is that really Pierce the Veil? Did they really just save my life? Okay, I know it sounds vain, but honestly. She just sort of sits there dumbfounded.
“Hey, is there anywhere we can take you so you’ll be safe? Anyone we can call?”
She shakes her head no and a small, sad smile graces her face. I’m actually scared right now. Scared for her, for the life she leads.
“Well come on, we’re taking you home. And since you don’t want anyone else, I guess you’ll have to settle for talking to us.”
She just nods a little and stands up. I take the time to notice that she’s quite small, several inches shorter than even Vic. Mike grabs her guitar and jumps down from the tree, handing it to her as soon as his feet reach the ground. She smiles gratefully and starts to lead us away.
I climbed up into the tree without hesitation. I’m just done, with everything. It’s like I’m made to be broken. I didn’t have friends, my parents left, now the landlord, and then to top it all off, my peers again. Torment is a vicious cycle.
Well I’m ending it. I’ll do as I promised people I used to love and try, try with music, but I’m almost certain that today will finally be the day I die. Since the time I first tried when I was 13, making my parents abandon me in hatred, to today.
I figure I’ll die as happy as I can, starting to strum the chords to Pierce the Veil’s “Hold On Till May”.
“She sits up high, surrounded by the sun.” I smirk to myself at the accuracy of the words.
“One million branches and she loves every one. Mom and dad, did you search for me? I’ve been up here so long, I’m going crazy. The sun went down, we ended up on the ground. I heard the train shake the windows, you screamed over the sound. And as we own this night, I put your body to the test with mine. This love was out of control, 3-2-1 where did it go? Now don’t be crazy, yes, of course you can stay here. Been in a touring band for ten years. Big deal, she said, I guess you’re official. I only say it ‘cause I know what it’s like to feel burned out, it gets you down. We’ve all been there sometimes, but tonight I’ll make you feel beautiful once again. And as the sun went down, we ended up on the ground. I heard the train shake the windows, you screamed over the sound. And as we own this night, I put your body to the test with mine. This love was out of control, 3-2-1 where did it go? If I were you, I’d put that away. See you’re just wasted and thinking about the past again. Darling you’ll be okay. And she said, if you were me you’d do the same. ‘Cause I can’t take anymore-“
My own sobs cut me off. I can’t do this. I can’t take anymore. I gently lay my guitar down, proud that I can die beside it. It has been and always will be my prize possession. Having thought about this many times, it’s not that hard to pull of my belt and secure it around my neck. I lean down, starting to tie the ends around the branch I’ve been sitting on.
“No!” I hear someone scream from behind me. The noise startles me into falling out of the tree, and into someone’s waiting arms.
I’m sobbing endlessly as they rest me on the ground, whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
~Jaime’s POV~
Tony suggests we give her some space, which sounds smart to me, so we sit on a bench a little way from the tree she’s sitting in, but still within running distance. We all smile at each other as she begins the familiar intro to Hold On Till May, thinking that it should be positive for her. Help her feel better, at least a little.
Almost too late do we realize we’re wrong. She suddenly stops playing as she bursts into tears. Then, too calmly, she wraps her belt around her neck. We’re all over there in seconds, Mike climbing up into the tree behind her. Just as she’s about to wrap it around the branch and jump, he shouts no, causing her to fall out of the tree and into my arms.
I whisper softly to her as she cries and I lay her down on the soft ground.
“Oh Christ…” I hear Vic say from behind me.
After moments that feel like decades she stops crying and sits up.
“I’m sorry to have caused you all trouble. Thank you for being kind. I’ll just be going now.”
“Yeah about that….” Vic says as her eyes widen at the sight of us. I can practically hear her go through the process in her head. Is that really Pierce the Veil? Did they really just save my life? Okay, I know it sounds vain, but honestly. She just sort of sits there dumbfounded.
“Hey, is there anywhere we can take you so you’ll be safe? Anyone we can call?”
She shakes her head no and a small, sad smile graces her face. I’m actually scared right now. Scared for her, for the life she leads.
“Well come on, we’re taking you home. And since you don’t want anyone else, I guess you’ll have to settle for talking to us.”
She just nods a little and stands up. I take the time to notice that she’s quite small, several inches shorter than even Vic. Mike grabs her guitar and jumps down from the tree, handing it to her as soon as his feet reach the ground. She smiles gratefully and starts to lead us away.
8/18/13